Transforming Education at All Levels

Students from Guédé Village High School give a thumbs up for the recent improvements at their school.

Andando has had the privilege of partnering with schools at all levels, from kindergarten through high school. This year, that meant supporting two schools on opposite sides of the country and at very different points in Senegal’s educational story. At Ndiédieng Elementary School, aging colonial-era buildings had left students learning in hastily built temporary spaces. At Guédé Village High School, one of the country’s newest schools, inadequate facilities and rising enrollment had created major barriers to education.

One of the temporary classrooms at Ndiédieng Elementary School which are now no longer in use.

Overcrowded or deteriorating classrooms make learning harder. Students lack desks and textbooks, teachers have less ability to manage the room, and constant exposure to heat, dust, and rain undermines concentration. Too few bathrooms create another serious barrier, especially for girls, who often miss school when menstruation cannot be managed with privacy and dignity. These are the kinds of conditions that keep children from enrolling and make it harder for them to stay in school once they do.

Aliou Ba (left), and Seynabou Ngom (right), top of their class, spoke at the inauguration of the new classrooms.

Though these schools exist in very different local contexts, they ultimately needed the same thing: infrastructure that could keep pace with growing demand. That is why Andando constructed two new fully furnished classrooms at each school, along with bathroom improvements and new facilities to help ensure that children can attend school in conditions that support both learning and dignity. At Guédé Village High School, one teacher described the impact this way:

“Before your arrival the situation was very complicated because classes were overcrowded. They used to sit generally 3 students at a table and it was very difficult for us to deal with. With the arrival of Andando and the building of these two classrooms, it’s a sigh of relief.”

— Mr. Cisse

Bright and comfortable new classrooms give students at Guédé Village High School a better learning environment.

From the Director - Feb 2026

One of my favorite parts of this work is sharing success stories from projects we only just introduced to you. Development is often slow and tedious, but right now, Andando is building a level of momentum that is as encouraging as it is noteworthy.

We saw a wonderful reflection of this recently when Andando WON the .ORG Impact Award for Hunger and Poverty. It was a proud moment for our team, and the video produced for the event really captures the heart of our mission.

Andando WON the .ORG Impact Award for Hunger and Poverty. It was a proud moment for our team, and the video produced for the event really captures the heart of our mission.

In Keur Socé, momentum continues with the completion of our newest aquaculture integrations in the Keur Ngor and Saré Diouma women’s gardens. The joy and pride these women showed while stocking their first fish was incredible. Watching them master this new skill set with such focus is exactly why we keep investing in our partners.

The women of Saré Diouma stocked their new aquaculture basins in late 2025 and are preparing for their first harvest this spring. This is our 9th garden to feature integrated fish farming with more planned for 2026!

That same pride is palpable up north in Senobowal, where the new woodlot and women’s garden are up and running. The community is seizing this opportunity with gusto and has already planted more than 1,500 trees. Even more impressive, the garden is already yielding its first harvests after just two months, with lots more to come!

From dust to greens: Senobowal’s garden is already flourishing, providing the community with its first harvests of radishes and lettuce. In just a few short months this space will become a veritable oasis in the desert.

Finally, our partners in Guédé Village High School and Ndiédieng Primary School are hitting the ground running this school year with their newly completed classrooms and bathrooms! For years, students here squeezed into temporary shelters that were sweltering and crowded. Their beautiful, fully furnished new classes have reduced class sizes and created a positive learning environment for all.

Students at the Ndiédieng primary school in their new, fully furnished classrooms. These permanent buildings replace the temporary outdoor shelters the community used previously.

It’s thanks to supporters like YOU that we can keep up this level of momentum and impact year after year.

“Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!

- Garrison Harward, Executive Director
Garrison@Andando.org

From the Director - Sept 2025

Andando is now a two-time finalist, after being nominated in the Community Building category in 2023. This year we are a finalist in the Hunger and Poverty category. Wish us luck at the awards ceremony on October 7! (Pictured: Crystal and Garrison at the 2023 .ORG Impact Awards.)

Let’s start with some wonderful news. In case you haven’t heard, Andando has been named a finalist for the 2025 .ORG Impact Awards! Out of nearly 3,000 organizations worldwide, we are one of just 35 selected. This recognition is a powerful reminder that the work happening in small villages across Senegal is resonating far beyond their borders. What we are building together is world-class and deserves recognition.

This honor comes as we step into a new season of growth. With the support of Tomberg Family Philanthropies, we are breaking ground this month on new aquaculture basins in the Keur Ngor and Sare Diouma women’s gardens. These cooperatives only recently reached their savings goal, and it’s thrilling to be able to support their momentum by adding fish farming as the next step in their journey toward resilience.

Early construction on the new aquaculture basins in Sare Diouma and Keur Ngor.

Much progress has been made on the new aquaculture basins in Sare Diouma and Keur Ngor, with completion expected in just six weeks.

Further north, in Senobowal, the recent completion of the deep borehole well is unlocking a wave of possibilities. Women and children can remain home rather than migrating with cattle, which means kids can stay in school. We’re now able to move forward with a women’s garden there as well, along with a village woodlot and massive reforestation initiative. Thousands of trees will provide food, shade, and restored soil, helping this remote community on the edge of the Sahara to confront the worsening effects of climate change.

Before: Students at Ndiedieng Primary School sat four to a desk but with their new classrooms on the way this will soon be a thing of the past!

After: The new classrooms in Ndiédieng, along with bathrooms and water taps, are well on their way to being completed before school starts. These new additions will ease overcrowding and give every student a safe, supportive place to learn.

And in education, two major projects are nearly complete. The new classrooms at Ndiédieng Primary School and Guédé Village High School are on track to open before the school year begins, creating safe and inspiring spaces for students to learn and thrive.

None of this would have been possible without your support. Together we are saying yes to communities who are working tirelessly to build a better future for their children and the world around them.

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Join us for Stories from Senegal - 11th Annual Dinner & Gala Fundraiser

Enjoy live music & a true taste of Senegal with a dinner designed with Senegalese celebrity chef, Pierre Thiam!

Can’t make it in-person? That’s OK! You can still participate ONLINE!

Bathroom Rennovation at Guede Village High School

Just a few of the students and teachers at Guede Village High School who are benefiting from recent bathroom renovations.

726 students at Guede Village High School are enjoying brand new bathrooms thanks to a renovation project funded by Altrusa International of Albany, Oregon, Altrusa International of Pendleton, Oregon, Altrusa International Foundation, Inc., and other Andando Donors!

School administrators alerted us to the need to repair two dilapidated bathroom facilities that were non-functioning, which contributed to high absenteeism among students, especially young girls.

Before: The bathrooms were non-functioning, but fortunately, they had solid construction so they could be renovated.

After completely renovating the restrooms, replacing the roof, and applying a fresh coat of paint, students can now use restrooms at school rather than having to go home or elsewhere for their needs.

Before: Much of the interior of the bathrooms needed repair or replacement.

After renovations, a new roof, and a fresh coat of paint, the bathrooms are ready for students to use.

Thankfully, the bathrooms had solid construction so contractors could renovate the existing structure. They evaluated what could be repaired and what needed to be completely replaced. Any broken toilets, light fixtures, or plumbing was replaced. The existing roofs were removed and replaced with brand new metal roofs with an updated design, and both of the buildings got a fresh, bright coat of paint. Access to sanitary bathrooms has a huge impact on students' quality of life and can help increase student attendance and enrollment.

Racky, Student and Communication Officer for the school government

“Thank you for coming to our school and providing assistance, especially with the restrooms. We really needed that because students were leaving the school to go outside to use the bathroom. And it was really risky with the road that crosses the school, the coming and going. It was very risky.

We are truly grateful for your presence. Your hard work and dedication have made a significant impact on us. We are really happy and from the bottom of our hearts, we want our school to be the best of all schools.”

With improved learning facilities, students are happier, healthier, and better equipped for success. Already since the renovation of the bathrooms, student enrollment has increased from 632 to 726! Students and teachers are incredibly grateful for their new bathrooms.

Abdou, Student at Guede Village High School who dreams of becoming a lawyer

“We truly commend you for your support and commitment to ensuring that students learn and have a better future. We want to thank you for the support you've given for the toilets, and the commitment you showed, it warms our hearts for the future, it will make a difference. We are doing our best and thank you.”

Guédé Village High School is strategically located as it serves some of the poorest, most remote villages in the region. It is a vital community resource and bridge for students to overcome intergenerational cycles of poverty. The Ministry of Education has identified Guédé Village High School as a priority because of its role in the holistic development of the region. Renovating the bathrooms is just the first of many substantial infrastructure upgrades they hope to complete over the next two years, including building seven new classrooms, a computer lab, an aquaculture integrated STEM Teaching Garden, and physical education infrastructure and equipment.

Mr. Watt, Principal of Guede Village High School

“Senegal is part of the Global South, where there is underdevelopment and, although there is education, the rate is very low. It's true that efforts are being made, but it's not enough. When these partners come to help us, it positively impacts the quality of learning tools. So, we really thank all the partners who invest, and we call on them to do even more, because we are indeed going to start building more classrooms.”

You can support the students at Guede Village High School as they work hard to further their education and build a brighter future for themselves. Donate today!

Education: The Foundation of Progress

Andando staff with faculty from the school and the mayor of Ndiédieng (center in white).

We are proud to announce a new partnership with Ndiédieng Primary School, thanks to the generosity of our supporters during the year-end giving campaign. Aid for schools, whether through school supplies, additional classrooms, or bathroom facilities, is one of the most frequent requests Andando receives. And we listen. Because we know that investing in education is one of the most surefire ways to foster long-term, intergenerational change.

Classrooms, dating back to Senegal’s colonial period, are often in an unsafe state of disrepair leading to overcrowding in newer classrooms.

Over 600 students attend this school in overcrowded, crumbling classrooms without functional bathrooms. Together, we’ll build two new classrooms, new bathrooms for girls and boys, and drinking water taps so that students have the best chance possible to continue their education and build the lives that they want for themselves.

The Keur Socé High School Garden is a vital teaching resource and source of revenue for the school.

Over the past 15 years, Andando has partnered with 20 schools that support more than 7,000 students annually. These investments, combined with Andando’s other intervention areas, are creating a powerful feedback loop of socio-economic improvements. As families experience better food security, health care, and financial stability, more children are staying in school longer, reaching middle and high school levels, which is driving an even greater demand for educational infrastructure.

This ripple effect is especially visible in Podor, where the success of Andando’s interventions has contributed to an urgent need for a new high school. To address this demand, the education ministry began offering high school classes at Guédé Village Middle School, but without adding new classrooms. The school, together with the mayor and a local parents’ group, has asked us to build eight new classrooms, renovate their bathrooms, and add a school garden.

Students at Guédé Village High School share classrooms with the middle school, limiting enrollment while more students want to come each year.

This is just one of numerous school projects that we hope to add in the coming years to continue to respond to the incredible investment that our partners and their children are making in their future.